After 56 league matches in the 2nd Hero Indian Super League, 52 more goals were scored by teams overall this year as compared to 2014. The highest margin of victory was by FC Goa when they trounced Mumbai City FC 7-0 at Fatorda. The same outfit coached by Brazilian legend Zico also recorded, the highest victory margin in away matches, beating Kerala Blasters 5-1 in Kochi.
On paper, Delhi Dynamos had the best attack but FC Goa have emerged as the highest scoring team with 29 goals in 14 matches. This fits in with Zico’s philosophy. He has always said that the focus of his team was to outscore the opposition and that he would rather his team won 6-4 than 1-0.
Except for Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City, all the other franchises recorded thumping away wins also. Some noteworthy such results were procured by Atletico de Kolkata when they beat Mumbai City FC 4-1, Chennaiyin FC beating FC Goa 4-0 and Kerala Blasters trouncing North East United 4-1 at Guwahati.
Overall, it has been a high-scoring ISL. But many of these one-sided matches occurred due to hectic travelling and haphazard scheduling. This has been a constant complaint by most coaches in the ISL. So sheer fatigue and injuries could also be the causes why fortunes fluctuated rapidly.
This is evident in the case of Mumbai City FC. In October Mumba, with Sunil Chhetri in sparkling form, were on a roll. They trounced NorthEast United 5-1 on October 28 in Guwahati. They left for Mumbai the next day and three days later took on holders ATK. Though they were hosts Mumbai City FC stuttered in this match and lost 1-4.
Creditably the four best teams in the 2nd ISL have entered the semi-finals. Three of them, ATK, FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC were semi-finalists last season also. The top three goal scorers are also from these teams. The impressive Colombian striker Stiven Mendoza of Chennaiyin FC leads with 11 goals in 14 matches, closely followed by Iain Hume of ATK with 10 goals. The slick Brazilian striker Reinaldo missed some matches due to injury but has netted seven goals so far.
Delhi Dynamos are newcomers to the last four. Ironically Dynamos with supposedly the best attack in the competition finished with the best defensive record. Creditably their coach, Roberto Carlos, has organised the defence well. John Arne Riise has excelled as central defender and inspired the Indians playing with him, Souvik Chakraborty, Anas Edathodika and Zodlianga Ralte, to raise the level of their game.
Also they are the only team playing in the double leg semi-finals without any injury or suspension worries.
Chennaiyin FC are affected as they will be without the suspended Elano Blummer, their ace playmaker and the dependable Mehrajuddin Wadoo in the first leg semi final.
ATK coach Antonio Habas is uncertain about the match fitness of his marquee player and striker Helder Postiga. Similarly Zico is concerned about the recovery of tough tackling French defender Gregory Arnolin and creative midfielder Leonardo Moura.
